Bellator is about to return to Chicago with a card headlined by a pair of world championship bouts. Bellator 297 is about to happen at Wintrust Area on June 16. In the principle occasion, Vadim Nemkov will put his mild heavyweight championship on the road towards Yoel Romero, whereas the co-main occasion sees one of the best fighter in Bellator historical past, Patricio Pitbull, going for a world title in a 3rd weight class when he challenges bantamweight champ Sergio Pettis. The promotion introduced the pair of fights on Monday.
In his most up-to-date battle, Nemkov set the file for many defenses of the Bellator mild heavyweight title together with his third. The win, a call over Corey Anderson, additionally gained Nemkov the Mild Heavyweight World Grand Prix. He has held the title since knocking out Ryan Bader with a head kick in August 2020.
Romero was initially set to problem Nemkov for the title at Bellator 290 in February, however Nemkov was compelled to withdraw from the battle. After a four-fight shedding skid from June 2018 to September 2021, Romero has rattled off two straight wins within the Bellator cage. His most up-to-date outing was a knockout win over Melvin Manhoef this previous September.
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The co-main occasion is an opportunity for Pitbull to make historical past as the present featherweight champion heads down a division to face off with Pettis. Pitbull is on his third reign as featherweight champion and beforehand held the light-weight title earlier than vacating it to afford his brother, Patricky, the prospect to battle for the belt. Pitbull avenged a loss to AJ McKee to regain the featherweight title in April 2022 and has since twice efficiently defended the title.
Pettis gained the bantamweight title in Could 2021 and made a profitable protection with a dramatic spinning backfist knockout of Kyoji Horiguchi that December. He was set to participate within the Bantamweight World Grand Prix earlier than being compelled to withdraw attributable to harm. He’s presently driving a five-fight profitable streak and has gained all 4 of his fights within the Bellator cage.
The winner of Pettis vs. Pitbull will likely be set to battle the winner of the Grand Prix finals. That battle, between Patchy Combine and interim champion Raufeon Stots, is about to happen at Bellator 295 on April 22.